Flight training and paratroopers of KPA Air Force Unit #378 (Photo: KCNA)

KPA Supreme Commander and acting chairman of the Party Central Military CommissionKim Jong Un (2nd L) looks at foodstuffs at a mess hall of KPA Air Force Unit #378, conducted by KPA Air Force Commander Gen. Ri Pyong Chol (2nd R) (Photo: KCNA, Yonhap)

Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) conducted an inspection and supervised the flight training of Korean People’s Army [KPA] Air Force [KPAF] Unit #378, which was reported by DPRK media on 27 January.  He was accompanied by Jang Song Taek (National Defense Commission [NDC] Vice Chairman, KPA General, etc.), Pak To Chun (NDC Member and Party Secretary), Gen. Kim Myong Kuk (Party Central Military Commission [CMC] Member and chief of the General Staff Operations Bureau), Gen. Kim Won Hong (CMC Member and chief of the Military Security Command), Gen. Pak Jae Gyong (Deputy Director of the KPA General Propaganda Department and Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces) and Gen. Ri Pyong Chol (CMC Member and commander of the KPA Air Force).

Members of the central leadership applaud while watching training exercises. Behind Kim Jong Un (L-R) are: Gen. Kim Myong Kuk; Gen. Pak Jae Gyong; Pak To Chun; Gen. Jang Song Taek; and Gen. Kim Won Hong (Photo: KCNA)

Paratroopers of KPA Air Force Unit #378 pose for a commemorative photograph with Kim Jong Un, after a training exercises (Photo: KCNA, Yonhap)

Jong Un previously visited the same unit and observed its exercises in December 2011, when he accompanied Kim Jong Il who was seemingly on a farewell inspection tour of KPA units.  His visit was reported one day after ROK Marines participated in live fire artillery exercises on two islands near the Northern Limit Line [NLL] that were shelled by the KPA on 23 November 2010.  The visit also occurred after it was announced that the annual Key Resolve joint US-ROK military exercises would be staged for two weeks beginning on 27 February.

KCNA reports:

After receiving a salute, he acquainted himself with the unit’s performance of guard duty and guided the flight training of pilots.

Watching the bold and dynamic performance by pilots, he, his face beaming with a broad smile, praised them for their success in training.

He congratulated all the pilots on their success in training, expressing great satisfaction with the fact that they have prepared themselves to be competent fighter pilots by undergoing dynamic flight training in a state of high alert, bearing deep in mind that training precisely means combat.

No enemy dares intrude into Songun Korea, our country is standing high as an invulnerable bulwark and socialist fortress and the sky above it will always remain clear and blue as its territorial air is being defended by the dependable and proud pilots, he said.

Then he went round a bedroom, mess hall and lecture rooms of the pilots of the sub-unit under the unit.

The stars of the color badge the commanding officers are bearing are not a symbol of any treatment but an expression of trust in the responsibility they have assumed before the country and the revolution, he noted, saying that if they do not know the weight of the stars, they cannot claim they have qualifications as commanding officers.

He called upon the commanding officers to think of the party’s particular trust reflected in the stars even when they face difficulties in rounding off their combat preparations and settling the issue of the soldiers’ living and to run and run till the soles of their boots are worn out, not forgetting the trust.

He gave the leading members and staff members of the Supreme Command accompanying him the tasks to be fulfilled to finish the combat preparations of the People’s Army.

He had a photo session with the service personnel of the unit. Then he took hands of the commanding officers of the unit and told them to conduct training better in good health.

Members of KPA Air Force Unit #378 pose for a commemorative photograph with Kim Jong Un (14th L) (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Members of KPA Air Force Unit #378 pose for a commemorative photograph with Kim Jong Un (7th L). Also in attendance from the central leadership are: Gen. Pak Jae Gyong (3rd L); Gen. Ri Pyong Chol (4th L); Gen. Kim Myong Kuk (4th R); Gen. Kim Wo'n-hong (3rd R); Pak To Chun (2nd R); Jang Song Taek (R) (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Mangyo'ngdae Revolutionary School (Photo: Google image)

Kim Jong Un’s last reported public appearance was a visit to Mangyo’ngdae Revolutionary School on the occasion of the Lunar new year.  He was accompanied by school alums VMar Kim Yong Chun (NDC Vice Chairman and Minister of the People’s Armed Forces) and Gen. Hyon Chol Hae (Director of the NDC Standing Committee [Presidium]) as well as Gen. Pak Jae Gyong, Ri Jae Il (Deputy Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department) and Col. Gen. Hwang Pyong So (Deputy Director Organization Guidance Department).  KCNA reports:

He approached the students with tears in their eyes and patted their red cheeks. He warmly took their hands, kindly asking why they did not wear gloves in such cold weather.

He went round the statue of President Kim Il Sung standing at the school.

The President and leader Kim Jong Il paid deep attention to the students of the school to train them as a backbone of the revolution, always thinking of them, he said.

Noting that the students of the school are the precious treasures of the revolution as they will always take the lead in upholding the Songun revolutionary leadership of the WPK, he underlined the need to train them as men strong in faith always sharing the destiny with the Party just as their fathers and mothers did.

He made the rounds of the room for education in the revolutionary history and the room devoted to the history of the school.

Standing before the uniforms of students, he said the red bands on sleeves carry profound meanings. He earnestly told them not to forget the noble desire of the great persons of Mt. Paektu reflected in them.

He went round different lecture rooms and laboratories having modern educational environment and scientific and educational facilities under the care of the WPK to learn in detail about the education at the school.

He looked round the bedrooms of students, mess hall, children’s union room and youth league room to learn about their living.

He urged the school to conduct educational work well so that all its students may steadfastly succeed to the revolution, not forgetting their origin.

Walking the compound of the school after dusk fell, he asked about what kind of turf was put on the playground. He said he would send good turf to the school and kindly proposed covering outdoor basketball and volleyball courts with rubber mat.

He moved to the gymnasium, telling officials to look round everything despite pressure of time. Feeling the floor with his hand, he said it was necessary to smoothen it better so that the students may not have their knees hurt while exercising. Underlining the need to build the gymnasium better, he said he would send designers.

At an e-library, he saw with keen attention students using computers and took measures for the operation of the computer network.

At their hall he sat on a chair used by them and said it was built well. He learned in detail about its acoustic conditions.

Noting that his visit to the school made him feel as if he had come to his birthplace, adding it offered him an opportunity to renew his determination to carry the revolution to completion.

He set forth important tasks which would serve as guidelines for the education and management of the school having a noble mission to bring up a backbone force, core force which will steadfastly succeed to the Korean revolution.

Kim Jong Un greets students of Mangyo'ngdae Revolutionary School (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Suk (Kim Cho’ng-suk), mother of Kim Jong Il and wife of Kim Il Sung, was featured prominently in the school’s historical exhibition.  She took an interest in the administration of the school’s early days, when it was located outside the city, and attended school events.  Her last surviving child and the Mangyo’ngdae Family’s invisible member, Kim Kyong Hui is most certainly busy as she has neither been reported nor observed in DPRK media since early January.  Meanwhile, the party’s publicity apparatus released a 20 minute film of Jong Un’s visit to the school.  The Associated Press released selected highlights of the film which can be viewed here.  Urminzokkiri offers the entire video, if one is inclined toward Ri Chun Hui’s dulcet voiceover.

The video below might not be legal to access in some countries.

The Mokran House in the central party area in the central district of Pyongyang (Photo: Google image)

Kim Jong Un hosted a New Year’s banquet on 23 January (Monday) for members of the central leadership at the Mokran (Peony) House.  KCNA reports:

A state reception was given at the Mokran House on Monday evening to mark the lunar New Year.

The dear respected Kim Jong Un provided this significant reception, associated with benevolence of leader Kim Jong Il, on the lunar New Year’s Day when the Korean people are greeting with ardent yearning for the leader.

Present there were Kim Yong Nam, Choe Yong Rim, Kim Yong Chun, Kim Ki Nam, Choe Thae Bok, Yang Hyong Sop and officials of party, armed forces and power bodies, social organizations, ministries and national institutions, men and officers of the Korean People’s Army and the Korean People’s Internal Security Forces, officials in the fields of science, education, culture and arts, public health and media and persons of merit.

Choe Thae Bok said in an address that thanks to Kim Jong Il’s noble love for the nation lunar New Year’s Day came to serve as an important occasion in instilling the Korean people with national pride and honor and patriotism.

The social traits of promoting excellent national traditions has been established in the country and the heyday of national culture in the era of Songun ushered in under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il who guided the work to develop the heritage of national culture as required by the demand of the era, the speaker stressed.

A woman (annotated) crosses a procession of the DPRK central leadership at the final reported visit to KJI's casket bier on 29 December 2011 (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Japanese press reported late last week that Kim Jong Un married a woman who was born in 1981, making her two to three years older than Jong Un and his so-called “big sister” wife.  The young woman, a native of Cho’ngjin, North Hamgyo’ng, is the daughter of a college professor and nurse.  She attended KIS University, where she is currently enrolled in graduate coursework to become a party cadre.  Due to her academic background and her parents’ exemplary party life, she was selected in 2008 as Jong Un’s fiancee.  The engagement was initiated by Kim Kyong Hui and Jang Song Taek.  Mr. Jang  submitted the woman’s name and background to Kim Jong Il, who approved the marriage.

Korea Times reports:

New North Korean leader Kim Jong-un married a woman some two years his elder in an arrangement made by his powerful regents, a report said this week.

Japan’s Weekly Post quoted North Korean defectors as saying Kim married the woman, a graduate of the top Kim Il Sung University in 2010 after the matchmaking by his aunt and uncle, who are said to be guiding the young leader into power.

The report comes as the world continues to watch for clues about the little-known leader, who was thrust into the spotlight following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, last month.

Analysts say that Kim Kyong-hiu, the late ruler’s younger sister, and her husband Jang Song- thaek, along with other powerful military and party figures are leading the country by committee as Jong-un, thought to be no older than 30 consolidates his support.

According to the report, the young woman was chosen as her parents were loyal party members. The defectors also said she may have been picked for her resemblance to the young Kim’s mother, Ko Yong-hui and for her strong university performance.

Though often referred to as a mistress, Ko is thought to have been the love of the late Kim’s life and is the mother of his three youngest children including the heir. She is said to have been treated with “first lady” status in the North.

Meanwhile, on the way back to Pyongyang for the banquet, Jong Un visited a machine factory.  He was accompanied by Jang Song Taek, Party Secretary and NDC Member, Pak To Chun and a Korean People’s Army [KPA] retinue consisting of Party Central Military Commission members Gen. Kim Myong Kuk and Gen. Kim Won Hong as well as Gen. Pak Jae Gyong and Lt. Gen. Ri Tu Song.  KCNA reports:

Seeing new type modern machines produced by the plant, he acquainted himself in detail with their mechanism, performance and technical specifications.

He was very pleased that the plant has produced in a short period machines helpful to building a thriving nation.

New machines are not only very high in their performance but look better in shape as compared with those built in the past, he said, praising the officials, workers, scientists and technicians of the plant for producing Korean-style modern machines.

He gave instructions to the plant.

He called upon the plant to produce more modern machines suited to the specific conditions of the country on the basis of the achievements already made.

He underscored the need to work hard to increase the production of new machines and improve their quality.

It is more important to build a large quantity of machines in terms of indices and produce even a single machine effectively so that it may pay off in practice than to produce trial machines and boast them, he stressed.

It is very gratifying that the workers, scientists and technicians of the plant pledged themselves to build more modern machines true to the behests of leader Kim Jong Il, he noted, earnestly telling them that if they attain their high production goal, he will join them in visiting the leader who lies in state and making a report of victory and loyalty.

Going round various places of the plant, he acquainted himself in detail with the supply service for its employees. He showed warm loving care and benevolence for them.

There is no nothing to spare for the workers, scientists and technicians of the plant, he said, calling upon the officials to take good care of their living before production.

Making the rounds of the Kangsong Health Complex being built by the plant itself, he showed loving care for it.

KPA Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un inspects bed linen during a tour of residential quarters of KPA Large Combined Unit #671 (Photo: KCNA)

Following up two visits to Korean People’s Army [KPA] units, DPRK media reported on 22 January (Sunday) that KPA Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited KPA Unit #671.  Yonhap reports:

North Korea’s new leader Kim Jong-un made yet another visit to a military unit, his fifth this month, according to a state media report Sunday, as the young successor tries to consolidate his power after the death of his father Kim Jong-il.

Kim visited the Command of Large Combined Unit 671 and “waved back to the enthusiastically cheering service personnel” before having his photo taken with them, the official (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

“He stressed the need to further improve the command and management of the unit and establish steel-like military discipline through the concerted efforts of the commanding officers and soldiers and thus fully demonstrate the militant spirit and appearance as the most elite revolutionary forces,” KCNA said.

“He expressed his expectation and belief that the servicepersons of the large combined unit would display the heroic mettle in the sacred service to defend the country,” it continued.

The report marked the fifth visit Kim has made to a military unit this month and suggests the young leader, believed to be in his late 20s, is seeking to solidify his grip on power in a nation where military backing is considered the backbone of the country’s autocratic rule.

Kim rose to power last month after his father Kim Jong-il died on Dec. 17.

Kim Jong Un (7th L) stands for a commemorative photograph during his visit to KPA Large Combined Unit #671. Also seen in attendance are Jang Song Taek (3rd R), Gen. Kim Wo'n-hong (4th R) and Gen. Kim Myong Kuk (4th L) (Photo: KCNA)

He was accompanied by CMC Members Gen. Kim Myong Kuk and Gen. Kim Won Hong, as well as his uncle, NDC Vice-chairman Jang Song Taek.  Jang Song Taek’s last public appearance was his attendance of a music and dance performance at the 25 April House of Culture, which was reported on 9 January.

Kim Jong Un waves to service members and officers at a commemorative photograph session during his visit to KPA Large Combined Unit #671 (Photo: KCNA)

Kim Jong Un walks with service members of KPA Unit Large Combined Unit #671 (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Un visits a study room during his visit to KPA Large Combined Unit #671 (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)